Change of Heart

Change of Heart

B T Coll

Table of Contents

Author’s Note

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Authors Note

Change of Heart is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents are entirely fictitious.

Copyright © 2017 B T Coll

Smashwords Edition

All Rights Reserved

Chapter One

Ethan Williams walked home from work along the riverside, as he so often did. It was a long walk home but he enjoyed it, especially on a summer’s evening like this. It had been a hard day for him in the fields and he was more than anxious to get back home and put his feet up. The summer heat had really tired him out today and he knew that tomorrow would be just the same. Farmer Johnson worked his farmhands hard but he knew he shouldn’t grumble, as so many young men of his age were not able to find work. He was lucky, he kept telling himself, not like his brother George, who had been idle now for nearly a year.

His brother was now talking about moving to London, to find work in one of their many factories. Something that both of them did not want to happen but if he didn’t find work soon, then that could be a distinct possibility. Ethan was rushing home today, to tell his brother of some news that he had heard at work. In the Big House, not far from their home, he heard that the squire was planning to take on another gamekeeper, as the poaching on his estate had got out of hand. Perhaps his brother could find work there but he would have to be quick. So, he rushed home as fast as he could to tell him the news.

As he approached the old oak tree near his home, he saw something lying on the round. As he neared, he could see that it was not something but someone. As he reached the body that was lying in a heap near the tree he gasped, it was a young girl barely, into her twenties. She was covered in mud and blood was seeping from her head. He knelt down beside her and tried to shake her awake but she did not stir. Looking at her, he could see that she was breathing, which came as a huge relief to him.

Her light green dress was torn and muddy. It was not a day dress or a proper horse-riding costume and he wondered how she had got there and what could have happened to her. Could she have fallen from her horse? He looked around for any sign of a stray horse but saw nothing. If she did in fact fall from a horse, then more than likely it would have returned to its stables.

The low-cut neckline of the dress exposed much of her bosom and he pulled it up a little, to cover her and preserve her dignity. Her dress had also ridden up her thighs and was now mostly around her waistline, exposing her under garments and on seeing this, he pulled the dress down quickly, to a more acceptable length. Her green bonnet was half on and half off her head and it too was covered in mud and blood. He gently untied her bonnet and had a look at her head. He immediately saw the huge cut on the top of her head and the blood oozing from the wound was streaming down her face and was now collected in a puddle on the base of her throat. Her blonde hair, which was in ringlets, were covered with her blood and so too were her knees he observed. Her stockings were torn on the right knee and as it was still bleeding, he took off his red handkerchief that was tied around his neck and tied it around her knee.

Wondering what to do next he decided to gently tap her on her face to try to waken her but she didn’t flinch. He stared down at her pale face to see if he recognised her but he did not. She was not from around these parts, he was sure of that. Scooping her up in his arms he noticed how light she was, which was a blessing as he was very tired and still had some way to walk to get to home.

Not knowing what to do with her, he decided to take her to Maggie Taylor’s house. She would know what to do. Kicking the front door with his foot several times, he could hear Maggie shouting, as she came to open the door. She thought it was one of her sons and was about to give him a good tongue-lashing.

Pulling the door open in anger, she was shocked to see Ethan with the injured body of a young girl in his arms. What on earth has happened? she asked, opening her front door even wider. I found her down by the old oak tree lying on the ground. She’s hurt real bad Maggie and I brought her to you. I know you’ll know what to do with her. he replied, walking into the house. You’d better put her down in the bed over there in the corner. she told him pointing to the corner of the room.

Laying the young girl onto the bed, he gently pulled down her dress that had once again risen up her body to reveal her undergarments. What you doing Ethan? Maggie asked glaring at him. Just fixing up her clothing. he replied sheepishly. Oh, is that so. Well we’ll have none of that in this house. Now go fetch the doctor. she told him and he immediately rushed out of the house. Doctor Brown lived and worked in the nearby village of Bellington, which was a good five miles walk away but tired as he was, he needed to get help for the girl.

Maggie took some hot water from the pot on the fire and poured it into a small basin. Then lifting a clean piece of cloth, that was laying on top of the freshly dried clothes, she rushed over to the young girl’s side. The first thing she did was loosen the girl’s dress, as it was buttoned right up to the neck. She cleaned the mud and blood from her face before cleaning out the cloth and mopping up the blood on top of her head. The blood was still flowing and she held pressure on it for a few moments, to stop the bleeding. She did her best to clean the blood from the girl’s head but decided that it would be better to leave most of it there, as the cut on her head seemed quite deep and could open up again.

By the way the girl was dressed in an expensive evening gown and the material from which it was made, Maggie knew that she was more than likely gentry. Her blonde hair was parted in the middle and carefully arranged into ringlets, a hairstyle of the rich. Maggie thought. She looked down at the girl’s expensive green shoes and agreed with her conclusion. Gentry she was but where did she come from and what on earth happened to her? She immediately noticed a red handkerchief tied around the girl’s right knee, which was obviously Ethan’s attempt at first aid. She undid the knot on the handkerchief and began cleaning the blood and dirt from her knee. The young girl slept through everything and did not stir, which worried her greatly. She knew that the girl wasn’t sleeping, she was unconscious obviously the result of the injury to her head.

Reaching out Maggie took her hand to check her pulse and noticed that it was quite weak. She also noticed how soft her hands were and how her nails were clean and so obviously groomed. This girl’s hands were soft and this in itself, proved that she had never had to work hard in her life. She glanced at her own hands and notices how rough the skin was. She always believed you could tell what kind of person was by the condition of their hands.

The door opened and her husband Robert gasped as he saw the girl lying on his young son George’s bed. What the hell is going on here? he asked his wife, who simply shook her head. Get me a blanket to cover the girl. The poor thing is frozen. she told her husband, who dutifully obeyed. Pulling the blanket up to just under the young girl’s chin, she tucked it around her body to try to keep her warm. How can she be frozen? It’s the height of summer. Robert asked, rather confused as the sweat was dripping down his face. She has lost a lot of blood. That’s why she’s so cold. Maggie replied, tutting at the pure ignorance of her husband. Who is she and why is she here? Robert asked, confused by what was going on in his own house.

Ethan brought her to me. He found her lying in a heap by the old oak tree. She has a nasty looking cut on the top of her head and Ethan is away to fetch Doctor Brown. Now, if you have finished asking questions, will you shout on the boys so we can have our supper. she told him, as she moved over to the supper table to put out the plates. Oh, can you bring in some more wood for the fire? she asked him. Robert looked at his wife and shook his head. Woman we don’t need any more wood. The fire’s blazing as it is. We should let it die down. It’s the summer after all. he insisted before stepping outside to call for his sons.

George, Thomas. Robert shouted at the top of his voice and Maggie found herself putting her hands over her ears. Their coming. he told her. ‘Well if the sound of your loud gruff voice didn’t waken that poor girl, nothing will. I need more wood Robert. She has to be kept warm." she told him, giving him a glare to show that she meant business. Robert shook his head to show his disagreement before doing as he was told and he collected some logs from the pile at the side of the house. On his return, he laid the logs down beside the fire and immediately Maggie threw two onto the fire and it blazed up.

George and Thomas rushed through the door in anticipation of what was for supper. They had been working in the fields all day and were starving. As soon as they sat at the table the smell made them realise that it was lamb stew again. Lamb again mum? six-year-old George asked. And what of it? I hope your not going to become one of those fussy eaters, that I’ve been hearing about in town. his mother replied, now glaring at his four-year-old brother Thomas, who was pinching his nose with his fingers to indicate that too did not like the smell of lamb. Go wash your hands boys. They’re as black as night. she told them in a stern voice. They both glanced over at their father, who gave them a wink and nodded to them to obey their mother’s wishes.

Boys will be boys Maggie. Robert said. Yes, well they will have clean hands when they come to my table to eat. Maggie replied, through gritted teeth. She was more than a little annoyed, as it was becoming harder and harder to put proper food on the table these days. Yes, it was lamb stew again but at least they were having meat, not like most of their neighbours, who would give their back teeth to have some meat for supper. She dished the stew onto the plates and kept the surprise for the boys until they had returned to their seats.

The boys washed their hands outside in a basin of cold water and dried them on the towel left on the stool outside the house. Lamb again. George whispered to Thomas who immediately screwed up his face. What are you two boys doing? Hurry up your supper will be cold and I have a treat for you tonight. Maggie shouted and with that the two boys rushed back through the door. Treat? George asked. I want a treat too. Thomas said and Maggie looked at her husband who was laughing his head off.

Why is father laughing? George asked. What is the treat? He was more than a little disappointed to hear that it was one whole potato each, to go with his stew. Maggie noticed the disappointment in her son’s eyes. A potato is a luxury. You boys should be grateful. she told them. Vegetables? George asked. Yes, a potato is a vegetable. she said angrily but the tone in her voice went unnoticed by her sons, who decided that lamb stew and potato was not as bad as they had thought. They were so busy eating that they did not notice the girl lying in the bed in the corner of the room.

It was only after they had finished eating that the two boys even noticed that she was in the room. Who is that? George asked his mother. And why is she in my bed? Never you mind. Maggie told him. Off you go and play. You have an hour before bedtime. So off you go quickly and don’t do nothing stupid. What do I always tell you? she asked. Keep safe. Thomas replied. Maggie smiled, for a four-year-old, young Thomas was very bright.

Good boy Thomas, you remembered. George? she asked her six-year-old son. I know, keep safe. Don’t worry mum we’re just playing with Samuel Watson and Charlie Green. George replied. All right then off you both go. she told them. What about her? George asked his mother pointing to the girl in his bed. Where am I sleeping tonight? Maggie ruffled his brown curly hair. You’re in with Thomas tonight. she told him and immediately heard him groaning. Now off you go and play. she said and George rushed out of the door. Me too mama. Thomas said and Maggie reached out and ruffled his blond hair. He giggled before rushing out of the door to find his brother. In appearances, the boys were so different from each other. George took after his mother with his brown curly hair and Thomas was more like his father, who at one time had the same blond hair but was now mostly grey.

Maggie stood at the door looking after them, as they ran down the fields to find their friends. Their shirts, which were once white, were now grey. And their black trousers were torn again at the knees. She sighed. She had mended their trousers the night before and now she would have to do the same again tonight. She didn’t really mind too much, as the boys worked hard in the fields to bring in extra money for the family. Farmer Richards employed them and their friends to keep the birds away from his crops. They did this by running around the fields and using clackers to make as much noise as possible. It didn’t feel like work to the boys and their friends, it was fun. Farmer Richards paid them 2 shillings each a week and Maggie was very grateful for this extra money.

The children only did this kind of work in the summer. In the winter there was no work, so Maggie always put a bit of money away each week, to see them through the winter months. Robert was a blacksmith and earned a decent wage but it wasn’t always steady work. Sometimes he was busy and at other times there was hardly any work for him to do. For some reason, this always seemed to be in the winter months.

So, Maggie saved as much as she could each week, to keep her family from starving. She also wanted to buy the boys some boots to wear in the winter, to keep their feet warm. In the summer they ran about barefoot, as did their friends. In the winter months, unlike their friends, their mother always without fail bought them boots. The boots lasted them throughout the winter but by the summer again they had fallen to pieces and could not be mended.

A little while later Doctor Brown and Ethan returned in the doctor’s horse and carriage. It was a treat for